Category Archives: Agricultural Policy

Ask Your Senators to Support Public Seed in the Farm Bill

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Kristina Hubbard

Senator Jon Tester is introducing a Farm Bill amendment next week that aims to reinvigorate classical plant breeding and public cultivar development. Call your senators today and ask them to support Senator Tester’s Farm Bill amendment to improve seed choices … Continue reading →

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Did You Miss the California Seed Stakeholder Meeting?

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Jared Zystro

At EcoFarm in January, OSA hosted a second California seed stakeholders meeting. More than two dozen seed producers, seed company representatives, university representatives, and seed buyers met to discuss how to improve seed systems in California. Below are a few … Continue reading →

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Seeding Canola, Ceding the Willamette

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Kristina Hubbard

The debate around canola production in Oregon’s Willamette Valley is not new. For years proponents have lobbied to remove planting restrictions to encourage canola production for biofuel. (See OSA’s statement from 2007.) The canola exclusion zones were put in place … Continue reading →

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Oregon Legislators Should Vote ‘Yes’ on HB 2427

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Micaela Colley

I grew up working and playing in the Oregon countryside next to fields of broccoli, corn, beets, and beans. Strawberry picking was my first job at age 12, as soon as I could get my social security card. I spent … Continue reading →

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TAKE ACTION Make Sure Organic is Funded & Protected

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Kristina Hubbard

UPDATED 3-14-13 Senator Tester (MT) has introduced an amendment (#74) that strikes the “biotech rider” language (background here) from the continuing resolution. The amendment ensures USDA’s oversight of GE crops is not undermined and also avoids unnecessary interferences with the … Continue reading →

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Tell Congress to Restore Funding for Organic Research

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Kristina Hubbard

When members of Congress extended the old Farm Bill on January 1, 2013, they left out dozens of critical organic and sustainable agriculture programs. This means programs that advance organic agriculture through research (OREI), data collection, and cost-share programs (among … Continue reading →

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Farmer Seed Stewardship: Andrew Still and Sarah Kleeger

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Kristina Hubbard

Adaptive Seeds Andrew Still and Sarah Kleeger Sweet Home, Oregon  In 2006, Andrew Still and Sarah Kleeger set out on a four-month journey spanning Northern and Eastern Europe. They dubbed this trip the “Seed Ambassadors Project,” where the objective of … Continue reading →

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Canola in the Willamette Valley: An Update & Opportunity

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Kristina Hubbard

Oregonians, mark your calendars: The next canola public hearing is this Wednesday, January 23rd, at 9:00 am Pacific at the Salem Fairgrounds. The comment period on the latest proposed rule closes soon after, on January 25th, at 5:00 pm Pacific. … Continue reading →

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CA Seed Stakeholder Meeting at EcoFarm on Jan. 24

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Jared Zystro

California Seed Stakeholders Meeting Thursday January 24th 2:00 – 3:30pm  EcoFarm, Asilomar, CA (in the Sanderling room) California currently produces the most vegetable seed, but many of the state’s organic producers believe they are underserved by the seed industry. What … Continue reading →

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OSA’s 2012 Annual Report

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Micaela Colley

As the year draws to a close, we extend our gratitude for your partnership and support. Thanks to you, we expanded into new regions in 2012 — educating more farmers, developing more organic varieties, and impacting more seed policy. A … Continue reading →

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